The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-31
JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT.
International Sunday-school Lesson for
April 8, 1887.

Joseph, and showed him mercy.-Genesis
%: 81.
CENTRAL TRurH-Envy is the parent Of
many sins and sorrows. |
TIME--B c. 1729 Ten or eleven years
after Jacobs return to Canaan.
1sAAC-169 years old, blind and feeble
JAcoB-1O9 years old, with 12 sons and
one or more daughters.
JosEpn-l7 years old, and Benjamin two
to four years.
PLACEs-Jacob's home was in Hebron, 20
miles south Of Jerusalem. Joseph sold at
Dothan, IL miles beyond Shechem, and
about ~ northeast from Hebron.
PLACE IN SECULAR HIsroRY-Aphophis
"a shepherd King Of the fifteenth dynasty
was the Pharaoh or King Of Egypt. Egypt.
tho most prosperous nation that had then
appeared on earth.
INTRoDuoTIoN-After Jacob had met
Esau, and they had parted in peace, he
went to Shechem, thence to Bethel, where
he had the vision, and finally settled at
Hebron, the home OF his fathers. Here
Joseph grew up till he was seventeen
years old, lovely, well-trained, godly
young man.
HELPS ovEs HARD PLa cEs-The ten older
brothers were trained in the worldly period
Of Jacobs life, and among heathcn asso-
ciates. Joseph had had ten years of the
more spiritual life of the family. He was
trained to work. He had revelations from
God. He had the especial love of his
father. The elder ones envied Joseph: because
Q) he was better; (2) he had reported their
bad conduct; (y his father had shown par
tiality to him publicly; az his dreams
seemed to assert superiority. %.
Stript out Of his coat: this was the coat
Of many colors Jacob had made for Joseph
IN his partiality "a long tunic with
sleeves, worn by people Of rank, made of
many pieces of different colors, en-
broidered "a Into a pit: dry cistern or
reservoir for rain water, cut out of the
rock, shaped like bottle, SO that it was
impossible for him to get out. They are
abundant. Many are twenty feet deep. 25
Ishmaeltes: descendants Of Ishmael, Abra-
hams son. Gilead: a country east of the
Jordan, near the brook Jabbok 26. JUpAH's
MOTIVE was undoubtedly mixed one. ~
He may have been troubled in his con.
science. A thing after it is done looks SO
different from what it seems in the heat of
passion. 1t troubled him to think of the
innocent boy starving to death. (2) They
could crafty their obvious feelings and
benefit their purses by the bargain. (3)
Thus Joseph would be removed from them,
30 that he could not reprove them or re-
port their doings g. Midianites: descend
ants Of indian, another son Of Abraham.
These were part of the caravan which
took its name from the moro numerous
Ishmaelites Ttcenty pieces Of siluer: proba-
bly, in rings, like the Egyptian money. The
amount was ten or fifteen dollars. 90.
Sent the coat: by servant. Brought il.
and said: I. e., by the servant.
COOP OUT OF EVIL. God overruled the
crime Of Joseph's brothers for good. But
this in nowise lessons the crime. Nor must
we imagine that the crime was necessary
to Gods plans. He could have easily pro-
duced the results in another way. But it
is q marvellous comfort 10 know that God
rules over all men, and can use even the
evil which men do in such way Us to
thwart their plans and bring forth good.
CoMMBNrs-In this lesson we have a sad
instance Of what evil and wicked actions
envy produces. What is envyl Envy is
that horrid feeling Of mingled unhappiness
and i'll will that springs up at the happi-
ness or good fortune Of others. 1t WIS this
feeling that led Joseph's brothers to plan
first, to kill him, and next, to sell him into
slavery. Let US look at some of the things
this wicked spirit has led mon to do, be-
side those found in our lesson.
(a) Envy led the Je,as to persecste Paul and
the discipks-(Read Acts 13:45 and l7:5.)
In this latter case it led them to assault
and arrest one Of the disciples, named
Jason.
(b) Envy led to the utter destruction of
Korah and his 25O compdnions-( Numb. 16:
1-35; Ps. 1O3: l6.) Korah and the others
were envious, because Moses and Aaron
acted as leaders Of the people. They
wanted this honor for themselves, and
were rebellious because they could not
gain It. In consequence Of this, God pun
ished them severely.
() Envy lei to the eructfxion of the Son
of Goa-The Pharisees and rulers of tho
people were angry at Jesus, and when
they saw how popular He was, they hated
Him. When the people welcomed Jesus,
and sang hosannas to His name, the Phar.
isees said among themselves: Perceive ye
how ye prevail nothingl Behold the world
is gone after Him. John 1910. Since
they could not themselves secure this
great popularity He enjoyed, they were de-
termined to prevent Him from enjoying
| it. So they made up their minds to kill
Him. Even Plate knew perfectly we'll why
they had accused Him. They charged Je-
sus with treason, and pretended that this
was the reason why they wanted His death.
But PLATE knew better He ''knew that
for envy they had delivered Him" (Matt
N:1S).
may we resist this great sinl By cultivat-
ing carefully and prayerfully the spirit of
charity, or Christlike love. ''Charity suf-
fereth long and Is kind charity envtsth not. :"
As we try to exterminate evil desires as
soon as they start, SO we should watch
care fully and crush out envy as soon as it
makes any appearance. Envy Is devilish,
while charity is Christiike. Which Of these
two spirits do we want to have rule In our
heartsl-Rey. A. n. SchauDIer.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. There are great differences of char
| actor In the same family and under the
same circumstances.
2. Partially in family is injurious to
| all.
s. Josoph's home training was in piety,
industry and love.
4. A tale-bearer for selfish ends is mean /;
but duty compels sometimes to report the
evil doings Of companions.
bringing s0rrrow to the envious and injury
| to others.
6. The fruits of envy are hatred, MUIR
der, lying, and a long train Of sorrows.
z Ill treatment Of parents is usually
| punished in this life. Jacob deceived his
father, and now his sons deceive him.
"A Little Mistake-Lena, who has
been only few months from Germany,
Is very proud of the facility with which
she is acquiring the English language.
Once in while. however, when trying
to repeat some of the slang phrases